18 August 2016

I love a good luxury product, but I dislike the assumption that green beauty has to cost a lot. Fact is, with a constantly expanding market, today there are great healthy options available at any price point. With that in mind, today's post features some of my very favorite inexpensive picks. These are all items I've bought more than once and are products I'll continue to purchase in the future. Prices might run slightly over $10 depending where you shop, but all items should be very affordable anywhere.

Kiss My Face Moisture ShaveI've tried a lot of natural shaving products over the last few years and I always go back to Kiss My Face's Moisture Shave. It's not a foaming product, but with a light lotiony consistency, it spreads easily, provides good slip for a razor, and leaves skin feeling soft and supple. My favorite is the Key Lime for its zesty citrus scent that's fresh and not at all overpowering. Mineral Fusion Sheer Moisture Lip TintI've raved about these crayons several times before and they're still one of my very favorite lip products. For me, they're the perfect combination of color and comfort -- sheer tints in a moisturizing, balmy base. My absolute favorite is Glisten (warm caramelly nude), but I also love Glow (bright pink) and Shimmer (coral with a subtle sparkle).Nourish Organic Body WashNourish has a horrible habit of discontinuing my favorite scents, but I still constantly rebuy the body wash in whatever scents I can find. As with all Nourish products, the body wash is made with top notch ingredients and is USDA certified organic. It has a creamy, pearly consistency and a castile soap base and is really unlike any other body wash I've used. Particularly if you have dry skin or are in search of something a little gentler and more moisturizing than your average shower gel, I highly recommend checking these out!Humphrey's Organic Witch HazelIf you're looking for an affordable toner, I highly recommend making your own with witch hazel. Witch hazel, if you aren't already familiar with it, is excellent for balancing oil production and cleaning and refining pores, and can easily be infused with herbs and blended with essential oils and other ingredients. This one, from Humphrey's, is a witch hazel astringent with 14% organic alcohol, but I prefer that to a lot of the preservatives found in alcohol-free witch hazels. Silk Naturals Sheer BlushesI love a lot of Silk Naturals products, but the blushes just might be my very favorite. The Sheer formula offers buildable color that's easy to work with and blend, so you never end up with accidental clown cheeks. My longtime favorites are Lovelace (a dupe for Nars Deepthroat), Abstract, and Tchotchke, but with a huge color selection, there are so many great options! Some shades do contain dyes, so if, like me, that's something you avoid, make sure you read the individual ingredient listings. Andalou Naturals Argan & Sweet Orange Shampoo + ConditionerI discovered these earlier this year and I'm already working on my second bottles of both! Of all the natural shampoos and conditioners I've used, this duo has probably the closest feel to conventional products. The shampoo lathers easily and rinses clean, and the conditioner moisturizes without leaving any kind of residue behind. Together, they leave my hair soft and bouncy with great curl definition, and while I wasn't sure about the sweet, candy orange scent in my hair at first, I've actually grown to really love it. Crazy Rumors Lip BalmI have a few favorite lip balm brands, but I think Crazy Rumors is the one I've repurchased the most. Not every flavor has been a complete success for me, but I love the actual balm formula, and I enjoy having so many different flavors to choose from. My top picks? Raspberry Sherbet and Plum Apricot. Acure Argan OilArgan oil is a great multitasking oil packed with vitamin E, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants. I buy it specifically to use in the ends of my hair, but without fail, it always also ends up on my face and body. There's significant quality variation amongst different argan oils on the market, and I think Acure's oil is one of the best at an inexpensive price point. Deep Steep Foaming Hand WashWith an ever-growing assortment of scents, Deep Steep makes a great healthy Bath & Bodyworks alternative. Personally, I can't always deal with strongly scented lotions and creams, but I can (and do!) get behind the foaming hand washes. They have great ingredients, clean well, don't dry out your hands, and smell fantastic. They're also super affordable (even the double size refills bottles are under $10!), and because they foam, a bottle of soap goes a lot further than you might expect. Keep an eye out for seasonal scents at Winners and TJ Maxx.

7 August 2016

It's no secret that I have far more face masks sitting on my skincare shelf than any one person really needs, but it's one area where I think an abundance of choices is, if not totally justified, then at least acceptable. Plus, the plethora was the inspiration for this fantastic hair trick that I've been loving for the past four or five months. You may have seen clay-based shampoos or scalp masks floating around, but what I love about this method is that it combines two components most of us already have lying around and rejigs them together for a brand new use. It's super simple, gives great results, and only takes a minute or two longer than an ordinary wash! Why put clay in your hair?Much the same way as it does for your face and body, clay applied to your scalp will pull out any oils, dirt, debris, and toxins that have accumulated in the pores and hair follicles. Not only is this clarifying, it also encourages hair growth since blocked hair follicles have been linked to hair loss and thinning hair. Clay also offers soothing properties and a boost of minerals that can help combat an itchy scalp or dandruff. Applied through the actual lengths of the hair, the clay helps to strip away any accumulated hair products or buildup. It doesn't dry out the hair, and it also lends an extra oomph of volume, both at the roots and throughout. The Simplest Recipe EverYou'll Need:Clay or Clay-Based Face Mask (hydrated)ShampooMethod:Combine one part clay to two parts shampoo in the palm of your hand. Stir together, then lather through scalp and hair as usual. Make sure to really work the mixture into the scalp, then let sit for 1-2 minutes. Rinse out and follow with conditioner, as needed. The Bottom LineI've used various clarifying shampoos and homemade apple cider vinegar rinses over the years, but nothing has worked as well as this simple trick! I use this method every third or fourth wash and my hair is healthier and bouncier than it's been in a long time. I don't suggest using a pricey $100 mask in your hair -- save those for your face!! -- but it's a great use for plain clay or simple blends. Different kinds of clay will give slightly different results, so it's definitely worth experimenting with more than one. For ease of use, my favorites have been already hydrated tubes of clay like the ones from Redmond or Chorus Supernatural (they're basically squeeze and go!) but dry clays absolutely work too. For powders, you'll need to wet a small amount before you hop in the shower and then proceed as above. Have you used clay in your hair before?